An article in the Vancouver Sun outlining the creators of Calling Canada and some of the messaging that was outlined in the advertisements.
A Toronto Star article describing Justice Minister Lapointe’s dissatisfaction with Calling Canada. In addition, that the adverts were based on falsities, and he would be reporting the campaign to press censors.
A snippet from the News-Chronicle which featured Calling Canada condemning Canada’s tank infrastructure and training in the early stages of WWII.
A piece in the Whing-Standard which states Justice Minister Lapointe's sentiment that the recent Calling Canada advert was a “Dastardly Attack” on Prime Minister McKenzie King.
In 1938, Judith was at odds with her employer The Globe and Mail. She published an article that denounced the Munich Agreement and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlin3. The editors had to write an apology to its readers and emphasized their displeasure to Judith. She initially agreed to tone down her condemnations. However, this censorship plagued Judith, she felt the need for an outlet to express his concerns about Canada’s efforts in the war. In 1940, Judith and her colleague Oakley Dalgleish decided to produce the Calling Canada campaign3. They would take out anonymous advertisements in major newspapers that disparaged Canada’s ill-preparedness for WWII. These adverts would touch on various issues, such as Canada’s lack of military tanks and training. One of Calling Canada’s instalments was titled “Canada Sold Out”5. It displayed a report from British Col. EJ Carter, who was a trainer at the Royal Tank School of England5. The report outlined his feelings that Canada’s armed forces had “Elementary training and equipment”5. Another rendition of Calling Canada reamed the Canadian government for failing to effectively evacuate British children during the early stages of WWII6.
The Calling Canada adverts began to gather extensive attention from the media and Canadian politicians. Eventually, it would be found that a female journalist Judith Robinson was leading the charge7. There was considerable backlash following the publishing of the Calling Canada advertisements. Judith Robinson and Oakley Dalgleish were both fired by The Globe and Mail for breaking their contracts3. Additionally, there were articles written about the founders of the group in major newspapers such as the Toronto Star, Vancouver Sun and Kingston Whig-Standard. Liberal Justice Minister Ernest Lapointe coined the verbal attacks in Calling Canada “Dastardly”6. Likewise, he called for a report to be completed and that press censors should be notified6. Dalgleish and Robinson’s work on Calling Canada laid foundations for the creation their own independent newspaper NEWS in 19413.